Original Drummer Pete Best Fired From The Beatles in 1962 — 50 Years Today
Posted by Adam
PETE Best — the original drummer in The Beatles — was fired from the band 50 years ago today.
The Beatles invited Best to join on 12 August 1960, on the eve of the group’s first Hamburg season of club dates. He was eventually replaced by Ringo Starr on 16 August 1962, when the group’s manager, Brian Epstein, dismissed Best under the direction of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, following their first recording session at Abbey Road Studios.
After working in a number of commercially unsuccessful groups Best gave up the music industry to work as a civil servant for twenty years, before starting The Pete Best Band. He has been married for over 45 years to Kathy Best; they have two daughters and four grandchildren. Best is sometimes referred to as the “Fifth Beatle”.
On why Pete Best was fired by the Beatles in 1962 as its original drummer, his mom, Mona Best said she believes her son was canned because John Lennon, Paul McCartney and others were jealous of his fan club.
“They made such an impact in the music industry. And of course with all that rediscovery, suspicions come to the forefront,” Pete said in a 2011 interview about Ringo replacing him.
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